Rin panted as he made his way over to the bench where Rory and Mandy were sitting. He furrowed his brows the closer he got as he realized Rory was staring at him oddly, and all the color seemed to be completely drained from his face. His gaze quickly moved to Mandy as he picked up his pace and jogged over to them. "What's going on? What's wrong with him?"
Mandy had a hand clasped over her mouth as her troubled, pitying gaze moved between Rin and Rory. "I'm... I'm sorry... I thought you'd told him already... especially after the comment your dad had made..."
The furrow of Rin's brows deepened as his gaze shifted between Mandy and Rory. "What did you say to him? What the fuck did my dad say?!" Rin's voice became panicked as he dropped to a squat in front of Rory. He clasped Rory's knees tightly, his panicked, almost frantic eyes searching Rory's distant gaze. "What did they say to you? Rory..." He rested his head against Rory's knees as he continued to plead with him. "Rory, come on, say something... Fuck..."
"What's going on?" Dillon asked as he jogged over, curiosity warring with concern as he neared.
Mandy's anxious gaze moved to him. "I... I really didn't know! I thought as long as he's worked with you guys and as close as you've all gotten... I... I thought he was bound to know by now..."
Dillon jerked his head back in stunned disbelief as his gaze moved between Mandy, Rin, and Rory. "Ah, fuck Mandy. You didn't." Dillon quickly shuffled around the bench to gather their things and tossed them to Mandy. "Here, you're on clean-up duty."
Tears burned her eyes as she turned her gaze to a distraught Rin and a frozen Rory. "I'm so... so sorry."
"There's no time for that shit now. We have to get them out of here before Rodric sees." Dillon bit out. He bent and caught Rin's arm. "Come on, man. Let's settle this at home."
"Fuck off!" Rin bit out as he settled back against Rory's knees.
Dillon's gaze moved around the back area. "Dude, people are watching. You're going to have to do a lot of fucking writing to play this shit off as part of your book... Come on." Dillon waited a few seconds, but when Rin didn't budge, he growled. "Come the fuck on, man. He's got no choice but to go home with us. Let's settle it there."
Dillon's words may not have reached Rin, but they did reach someone. Rory's gaze moved to the damp, chocolate head of hair resting against his knees. He held a trembling hand out before sliding his fingers into the damp tresses. "Let's go home..." He whispered on a shaky breath.
Rin's head slowly lifted. Red-rimmed eyes met Rory's. "You'll... You'll go back with us?"
Rory reached out and brushed away a single tear with the sleeve of his sweater as he nodded.
Rin gave his legs a tight squeeze before he shot to his feet. He moved to scoop him into his arms, but Dillon stopped him.
"You can't carry him here. Let him walk. You've already gathered too much attention." Dillon bit out.
Mandy's eyes moved around the crowd. "Wait... What if we make it look like Rory hurt his foot more? That's why Rin has been down there so long and is now carrying him?"
Dillon blew out an exasperated breath as he bent and scooped up the crutches. "Fuck it. I give up. Do what the fuck you want." He stomped off past them before calling over his shoulder. "I'll pull the car closer, so it at least looks believable."
Rin sent Rory an overjoyed smile as he lifted him carefully into his arms. "I promise, I'll tell you everything and answer all your questions as soon as we're back." He blew out a watery, snorted laugh.
Rory relaxed his head against Rin's collarbone as he stared up at him, his mind still running through all their interactions. The chest piece, never seeing him naked... Was this what Rin meant when he'd said he could be a convincing female? Rory furrowed his brow. Was Rin willing to give up his identity, risk exposing himself for me?
No one spoke the entire car ride home. Again, Rin carried Rory inside and set him on the couch. He fussed over him, making sure he was comfortable and had everything he needed before settling on the opposite armchair, though Rory was convinced he wouldn't stay there long. Rory just watched in silence.
"I'll be in the kitchen getting dinner ready..." Dillon muttered. "Come in when you guys are ready to expand the conversation... or don't... either way... I'll let you know when dinner's finished."
Rin nodded to Dillon but remained silent until he was out of the room.
Rory had never seen Rin look so nervous. He wanted to say something to comfort him, but wasn't sure exactly what to say first. It's my fault. I should have figured it out sooner... I'm the dumbass...
"Rin..."
"Rory..."
They both said each other's names at the same time.
"You go ahead," Rin said.
Rory awkwardly shook his head. "No, you go..."
Rin blew out a sigh as he ran his hand through his hair. "I... I didn't mean to keep it from you for so long... Usually, my father isn't shy about bringing it up in the interviews, so we assumed you knew when you got here. When you didn't... we thought we could use it to our advantage against him... and we have been..." He frowned and quickly added before Rory could speak. "But... then I started actually liking you and wanting you to like me... I... fuck..." His gaze shifted around the room as he ran his hand across the back of his neck nervously. "I couldn't find the right time to tell you, I guess... I kept hoping you'd like me more first... That I'd become someone you couldn't live without, and at that point it wouldn't matter... I wanted to show you that it didn't matter that I could be everything you needed... do everything you could want... without... actually being..." His words trailed off.
Rory pushed up from the couch, and he hobbled over to the armchair using the coffee table to balance on as he did. Rin willingly sat back as Rory sat on his lap and wrapped his arms around his neck. Rory pressed his lips to Rin's and let them linger there for several long seconds before whispering. "A man?"
Rin squeezed his eyes tightly closed as he nodded against Rory's forehead, which was now pressed against his.
Rory leaned back and cupped Rin's face in his hands. "But you are one... I've never seen you as anything else. I don't see you now as anything but..."
Rin choked back a sarcastic laugh. "You say that, but..."
"But what? Is that why you won't get naked in front of me?" His hands slid to the buttons of Rin's shirt.
Rin's hands moved to his. His eyes held doubt and nervousness. "You said so yourself... you're gay... You've never had an interest in anything but men."
Rory continued moving his fingers below Rin's hands, his eyes holding Rin's. "I said I'd not given it much thought... Why not ask me now that I've given it some thought?"
Rin swallowed down a wishful gulp as his grip began to relax on Rory's hands. "Wh...what do you think of transmen?"
Rory nodded. "I think I'm very attracted to them... or at least the one I've met. Though, now that I think of it, certain things definitely feel different."
The corner of Rin's lip twitched in the first smirk of the night. "And what might those things be?"
Rory tilted his head as he unbuttoned the last of Rin's buttons and pushed his shirt open. His hand glided over the firm pecs that were being held into place by some kind of flesh colored sports tape. "I would say these... but honestly, they still just look like taped down super pecs... I think there are gym bros that are still bigger. Why do you even bother?"
Rin sputtered out a laugh. "Because the one night I didn't, you got drunk and decided to play with them. I'm not going to lie, it was a bit awkward for me." He shrugged. "And you'll see, once I do take the tape off. There's still a difference. They don't quite pass as masc."
Rory nodded. "I think I will still like them..." He murmured as he ran his hand over the hard muscles.
Rin chuckled. "Guess as long as I stay fit, you'll be fine, huh... Alright, moving on... What else is different?" Rin asked as he leaned back and pulled Rory onto his lap.
Rory ran his hand across Rin's cheek. "Your face is smooth."
Rin chuckled. "That's laser hair removal. If I don't get regular treatments, I can grow nearly as much facial hair as Dillon. I've been on T for years now."
Rory's eyes widened. "Oh... And your dad forced you?"
Rin shrugged. "Not the T exactly, but I figured might as well if I was going to have to pretend to be a boy, why not be one for real."
"Do you like it?"
Rin shrugged again. "I don't know. I've never been anything else. I know I don't like being in between. I've honestly never had a desire to try living like a woman." He brushed Rory's hair out of his face. "I'll dress as one for you, though."
Rory shook his head. "Knowing what it means for you to do that... I can't ask you..."
Rin pulled him down against his chest and kissed his forehead. "I was planning on using that as my way of telling you... Besides, don't worry about it. I cosplay all the time. It's no big deal. Tons of non-binary and trans people do." He tightened his hold around Rory's waist. "Now, tell me, what else has been different?"
Rory's cheeks reddened, and he began squirming against Rin's hold.
Rin tightened his arms. "Ah, now you have to tell me."
Rory could feel his blush creeping down his neck as he met Rin's teasing, shimmering eyes. "The size and firmness of... of it..."
"Of it?" Rin's grin widened as he teased and tickled Rory. "What about it? Come on, tell me more."
Rory squirmed against him as his face heated more. "I... I'd never felt a bulge... but then our first night... It was huge... and... and then the other times it's been... average..." Rory looked away as he added. "And... you never... got soft... It was always extremely hard..."
Rin snorted out a laugh.
Rory snapped around and slapped his chest. "Well, you asked." He bit out in embarrassment.
Rin held him tight. "I did. And I'm glad you answered." He nuzzled against Rory's neck. "Now that you know, you can pick out whatever size you want. Most of them have vibrating options, some can squirt... hell, I even have creature dicks."
Rory pushed away from Rin and stared down at him. "Creature dicks?"
Rin nodded. "Yeah, monster dicks, tentacles, alien, horse, dog... or maybe it's supposed to be a werewolf... I don't know, but it has the knot at the end. We got it for an omegaverse BL we were doing."
Rory stared down at Rin in horrified fascination. "And... you... actually... use them?"
Rin shrugged. "Yeah, why not?"
Rory shook his head. "I... I don't know if I'm ready to go that far just yet. Baby steps, please..."
Rin chuckled with a nod. "Baby steps." He became serious as he held Rory's gaze. "Speaking of baby steps... there's another issue we need to address... Dillon..."
Rory blew out a long breath, practically deflating in Rin's arms. "I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of step either..." Rory searched Rin's eyes. "I'm not saying no entirely... I... just not now... I get the two of you have some weird past... but is it too much for me to ask for just a bit of your present all to myself while I figure it out?"
Rin nodded. "Yeah..." He nodded toward the kitchen. "Come on. Let's go fill him in."
Rory threw himself forward, wrapping his arms around Rin's neck. "Do we have to? Can't it wait?"
Rin chuckled as he shook his head. "No, sorry. We may have a fucked up relationship, but the one thing we don't do is hide shit from each other. Especially where it involves these kinds of things."
Rory set back and studied Rin. "Have you two ever... taken a break or whatever before?"
Rin nodded. "Dillon had gotten tired of Sabastian's bullshit a long time ago. He'd basically taken a step back until the new assistants started pouring in, then he decided to join in on the fun with some of them."
Rory frowned. "Oh, I see..."
"Don't worry. He's not lying when he says you were different. Dillon has never stood up against me for anyone before." Rin shrugged. "He may have a shit way of showing it, but he really does like you. He raised so much shit when you first got here with me and Sabastian both. You'd probably find it funny now..."
Rory arched a skeptical brow. "I don't know, you were both pretty big assholes, dead set on making my life hell."
Rin chuckled awkwardly. "True... I'm glad you didn't give in or back down." He scooped him into his arms before standing. "Alright. Let's go."
**
Dillon turned from the stove as he heard bickering coming down the hallway. His mood had been grey as he mechanically worked through his routine prep. However, this went for Rin; he already knew how it was going to go for him. It was always the same. He huffed out an irritated, sarcastic laugh and rolled his eyes as Rin rounded the corner into the kitchen with Rory in his arms. Of course... Well, let's hear it... Sorry... You're just not good enough... You're sitting it out again this time. We'll let you know when we want you... if we need you...
"We finished talking... I told him pretty much everything." Rin said as he set Rory down on one of the stools at the island. His shirt was still unbuttoned most of the way.
Dillon's eyes moved over Rin. "I see that..." His eyes shifted to Rory. Other than his usual blush, he seemed more or less happy. "And you?"
Rory shrugged. "I mean... It may be... different at first and require some adjustments... but I think I'm ok with everything." He sent Rin a shy glance. "I mean, we've already... and that was..." His blush deepened.
Rin's grin widened. "Great? Amazing? Mind-blowing? Back-breaking?" Rin supplied, causing Rory to turn a few shades redder.
Dillon turned from the stove and leaned on the island. He studied Rory for a short while before asking in a sullen tone. "And the other thing?"
Rory's redness quickly paled as he stared back at Dillon. "I... I..."
Rin shrugged. "Maybe it's my turn to step out for a few minutes, yeah?" Rory quickly caught his shirt, but Rin gently loosened his hand and brought it to his lips. He placed a kiss on Rory's knuckles before whispering. "Don't worry, and just tell him how you feel. He's way calmer and more levelheaded than me, and you always do fine with me."
Rory swallowed down his apprehension as he nodded. He watched as Rin released his hold and walked from the room, sending him a wink from the doorway. He turned his attention to Dillon and felt dread creep back up as he stared into Dillon's stoic gaze. "I... I..."
Dillon turned back to the stove and turned off the eyes. He moved the pans before rounding the island and leaning against it beside Rory. "I get whatever you have to say isn't in my favor. So, spit it out."
Rory dropped his head to his lap and began picking at the cuticles of his thumbs as he bit into his lip.
Dillon shifted and took both of Rory's hands into his. "Look at me. I'm not mad. Just say what you want to say." He ran his thumbs soothingly over the skin Rory had already made angry.
Rory swallowed past the lump forming in his throat. "It's not that I'm saying no to what you two are trying to... offer... I don't know if that's something I would want or not... not right now anyway." He risked a glance up at Dillon, but Dillon's expression hadn't changed. So, he continued. "Just when I thought I'd gotten to know Rin, this happens. Now, I'll have to get to know him all over again... I think..." His gaze shot to Dillon quickly before moving back down to their hands just as fast. "And I don't know you all that well, if I'm being honest."
Dillon huffed out a laugh. "Well, for starters..." He took one of Rory's hands and pressed it to the front of his pants. "Mine stays attached." The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. "Since we're playing show and tell today." He released Rory's hand and bent as he ran his fingers through Rory's hair. "And I may not be as aggressive about showing my attraction to you as Rin, but I am..." Dillon cupped the back of his head and pressed himself between Rory's legs. "I'm not going to force a kiss on you or my body, though. I want you to come to me when you're ready... If you ever decide, I'm what you want." He let his hand slide down Rory's arm. "Don't think just because there is this weird thing between Rin and me, that automatically means you have to fuck us both. It's your choice, Rory." He bent and placed a kiss on Rory's forehead. "Dinner is almost ready. I'll help you to the dining room."
Rory nodded as he slid from the stool, but quickly remembered his crutches were through the house. "Um..."
The corner of Dillon's lips lifted as he bent and scooped Rory up. "Do you honestly think Rin's the only one who can carry you around? You're lighter than a bag of potatoes." Dillon paused with Rory in his arms. "Take your time and think about what I said. I'd much rather you be happy with just one of us for a longer time than try to pick us both and grow to regret it quickly. I've seen it happen way too many times."
Rory nodded. "Why do I get the feeling you're always the one to give this speech and never Rin?" Rory watched as a muscle twitched in Dillon's jaw, but he didn't answer; instead, he simply carried Rory to the dining room in silence.